From Iraq to the operating table to the softball field, Dighton veteran Greg Reynolds’ story of recovery and personal triumph has inspired nearly all who meet him.

On Wednesday, Feb. 1, that story continues as 27-year-old Reynolds takes to the football field. He and seven teammates from the Wounded Warriors Amputee Softball Team (WWAST) will participate in the festivities leading up to this year’s Super Bowl, in a flag football game against former and active NFL players at the Indianapolis Indoor Sports.

"I think it’s a great opportunity that they’re letting us play with Super Bowl stars," said Reynolds. "I’m a big New England fan, so I’m pretty pumped."

Iraq deployment

Reynolds’ journey began when he enlisted in the United States Army at the age of 17.

He said his mother, Gwen, first contacted recruiters about his enlistment on Sept. 10, 2001, one day before the infamous terrorist attacks. He enlisted on Nov. 21, 2001, while he was still attending Dighton-Rehoboth High School.

In April 2003 — a month after the U.S. first invaded Iraq — Reynolds landed in Kuwait.

His 15-month deployment included months of training and 369 days in Iraq as a motor transport operator with the 4th Infantry Division.

"As a motor vehicle transport operator, I was licensed to drive any wheeled vehicle," said Reynolds. "When I wasn’t driving, I was on the machine gun."

His unit’s home base was in Tikrit, Iraq — Saddam Hussein’s hometown — but his unit was constantly involved in convoys that traveled across the country.

Reynolds said his unit logged more than 1,000,000 miles of missions during his tour.

"That pretty much equates to, you’re always on the road," he said.

While he wasn’t in the infantry or a more traditional combat role, Reynolds’ job in Iraq was nonetheless dangerous, as convoys were commonly the targets of ambushes and improvised explosive devices.

"Every day, I left the gate not knowing if I would come back in one piece," he said.

Motorcycle accident

Reynolds returned from Iraq in 2004, and, ironically, it was back in the United States that he was severely injured.

"(I thought) I left death behind me. … (But) while on a Sunday drive with my buddies, a 75-year old Korean vet pulled out in front of me from a stop sign when I was on my motorcycle," said Reynolds.

That was on June 22, 2008, a day that has forever changed the lives of the entire Reynolds family.

"In three seconds, his life changed, my life changed," said Gwen Reynolds.

Reynolds was given a 1-in-2,000 chance of survival, according to Gwen. If it wasn’t for the quick action of the EMT who was first on the scene, who had 25 years of experience, he likely would not have made it.

Page 2 of 4 -
Gwen also said the top trauma surgeon at the hospital where Reynolds was taken also happened to be working on that day, which contributed to Reynolds’ beating the odds.

"(The surgeon) couldn’t believe I even made it to the operating table, because my heart was exposed," said Reynolds.

On the brink of death, Reynolds received 101 units of blood and a number of operations all while he was in a coma — during which his survival was not guaranteed.

"His friends said at that time, ‘If anyone can get through this, it’s Greg,’" said Gwen.

After six weeks, Reynolds awoke from his coma, but as a result of his accident, his left arm was amputated at the shoulder.

Road to recovery

Doctor’s told Gwen that Reynolds’ future was bleak after his accident.

"They said, ‘You may never walk again or know who you are,’" said Gwen to Reynolds.

Reynolds spent about three months in the hospital, during which he had to relearn everyday activities that most of us take for granted.

"It was like being a newborn kid all over again… It was tough, real tough," said Reynolds.

But with hard work, perseverance and determination, a mere four months after being released from the hospital, Reynolds was skiing as part of a Veterans Administration (V.A.) adaptive sports clinic.

He also went surfing, rock climbing and bicycle riding through these clinics, among other activities.

"Before the softball team, I was very active in V.A. adaptive sports clinics," said Reynolds. "They were really what helped me get to the level I’m at."

The WWAST

It was through these clinics that Reynolds caught the eye of David van Sleet and was contacted to try out for the WWAST.

"David van Sleet was looking for top athletic guys with baseball and softball experience," said Reynolds. "I’ve been playing baseball my whole life, and I played softball on one team. So I jumped at the opportunity."

Formed in March 2011 by founder and head coach van Sleet, the WWAST is a one-of-a-kind team.

"We’re a Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team with all veterans being from Iraq and Afghanistan," said van Sleet. "…They’ve become a special group. Most of these guys didn’t even think they were going to work again, let alone walk or play sports."

Van Sleet, who’s worked with prosthetics with the V.A. for more than 30 years, has coached many softball teams in his lifetime, and he founded the team through the V.A. to combine his two passions.

The team held tryouts in Tucson, Ariz., and of the 20 veterans that showed up, 15 made the team.

Page 3 of 4 -
Reynolds was one of those 15.

"I had to learn to catch all over again," said Reynolds, who plays left-centerfield for the team. "After I make a catch, I have to get the ball in pretty quickly. I learned to bat, too, so now I can hang and bang with the rest of them."

He spent much of his time preparing for the tryouts at Fielder’s Choice on Rt. 44, where he learned a technique to catch the ball, toss it in the air, and catch and throw it all with the same hand.

"He’s remarkable," said van Sleet. "He lost his shoulder and his arm, and he’s developed a technique to catch the ball, flip it up and throw it."

The WWAST has played softball against firefighters, police officers, first responders, members of the FBI, other armed forces teams, and even the 1996 and 2000 Olympic gold medal women’s softball teams.

"We only play able-bodied teams. We don’t play any disabled teams," said Reynolds, and despite a few losses, the team usually does well.

"When we get the bats going and have solid ‘D,’ we can get some runs up there," said Reynolds. "We can put up some numbers. We can play really good."

The team has played in venues across the country, including Washington, D.C.; Las Vegas; Panama City, Fla.; and San Diego and Orange County, Calif. While in Florida, Reynolds and the WWAST were surprised by a visit from Major League Baseball players Johnny Damon and A. J. Pierzynski.

"They were very cool," said Reynolds. "(Damon) was really cool, down to earth."

Wednesday’s game

While the team usually plays softball, van Sleet said a few players played football in high school. On Feb.1, their skills will be put to the test as they face off against former and current professionals in a flag football contest.

"This is our first time playing football," said van Sleet. "…I think being amputees and displaying their athleticism just shows that life without limbs is limitless."

Despite their comparative inexperience, Reynolds is confident his team will have a quality showing.

"I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people," he said. "The ultimate goal is just to have fun, but we’re all really competitive and we’d like to come home with a win. It isn’t going to be easy (for the other team), that’s for sure."

Wednesday’s game will pit the WWAST against former and active NFL stars, including Boston College’s Bill Romanowski, Hall of Famers Jack Youngblood and Jackie Slater — father of Patriot Matthew Slater — and Jerry Kramer, Dallas Clark and Jeff George.

Rocky Bleier — who won four Super Bowl championships with the Pittsburgh Steelers and is himself a Purple Heart recipient after he was wounded in Vietnam — will also be playing for the WWAST.

Page 4 of 4 -
Major General Martin Umbarger of the Indiana National Guard will be one of the WWAST coaches for the game, and Indianapolis Mayor Gregory A. Ballard, a retired Lieutenant Colonel from the United States Marine Corps, will be honorary referee.

What happens next

Regardless of the outcome, Reynolds is happy just to be a part of the WWAST.

"Being on this team, it feels good to be around my brothers. We’re all combat veterans. The bond we have on this team, it’s remarkable, it’s unbreakable… It has provided me an outlet not only to show my injury but that there’s life after an injury, and it’s up to you to make it happen," said Reynolds.

During halftime, Reynolds is likely to face off against an NFL player in a push-up contest, something that has become a tradition for the WWAST.

"Whenever we lose, I challenge the biggest and baddest guy (to a push-up contest)," Reynolds said.

In one contest against a United States Marine, Reynolds was able to outlast the Marine by one push-up after doing about 70 push-ups in total. He is 13-0 in these push-up contests, despite using one arm to face opponents with two.

On a poster in his Dighton home, Reynolds has a saying of his that truly sums up what he’s all about.

"The only limitations you have are the one you make, and I don’t make any."